1966 Lincoln Continental
Stainless Steel Convertibles

Built to celebrate the production of 50,000 units for the 1966 model year

The all-new 1966 Lincoln Continental was very popular, and model year production
surpassed the 50,000 mark for the first time since the unibodied, center-opening
rear door body styling had been introduced back in 1961. To celebrate this
achievement, the fifty thousandth car built was assembled with brushed
stainless steel body panels for the Lincoln Division. The metal was supplied
by Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which
was the same company behind the stainless steel 1936 Fords and the 1960 Ford Thunderbird Hardtops.

Allegheny-Ludlum ordered two additional stainless steel cars to use for
promotions, and they were built at the same time as the fifty thousandth
car for Lincoln. All three were Convertibles, and featured a brushed finish
on the stainless steel panels. The convertible tops were black on two of
the cars, and a dark blue top was fitted to the other. One had a black
leather interior, another a dark blue leather interior with individually
adjustable front seats and console (this was the one with the dark blue
top), and the third a red leather interior. The car with the black top
and black leather interior was the 50,000th car, has the 50,000th VIN,
and remained with Lincoln-Mercury for years. The other two of course were
delivered to Allegheny-Ludlum.

The inside areas of the doors, under the hood, and inside the trunk are
painted to match the interior trim color of the cars, as stainless steel
was not used in these areas.

The cars were built late in the 1966 production run at a cost of $30,000
each. The two cars built for Allegheny-Ludlum were fitted with 1967 hood
ornament, grille, and taillight trim, as well as '67 dash pad, tilt steering
wheel column, steering wheel, and padded hub to update their appearance.
Despite using 1967 grilles, for some reason, the Continental Star that
appeared on the front fenders of the 1966 models only was fitted to all
three stainless cars. Documentation shows that the front fenders did not
initially have the mounting holes for the ornaments, so they had to be
drilled later to attach the chrome decorations. It is not clear why this
was done, as not attaching those emblems would have essentially given the
cars a '67 exterior appearance.

The car retained by Lincoln (the actual fifty thousandth car) was damaged
in the 1970s when a building partially collapsed on the car. It was repaired,
purchased by Allegheny-Ludlum, and is now on display in a museum. The car
with the red interior was was in an accident and suffered front end damage
at some point. It too was repaired.

All three stainless steel Lincoln Continental Convertibles still exist
today, and are shown from time to time at car shows around the country.

The three stainless steel Lincoln Continental Convertibles are shown in
the image at left in the special assembly area set aside for these cars.
The 50,000th Lincoln is the one on the extreme right in the photo. Note
the bracing running from the windshield header, and the pieces of paper
taped to the center of the header, upon which the words "DO NOT PAINT"
were written. (Click image to view larger version in new window or tab.)